From the president
Ruby's commitment to voter advocacy is remarkable, and she has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to inspire and mobilize others for meaningful civic engagement. She first became involved with the McKeen Center, our civic engagement office on campus, when she was a sophomore through Bowdoin‚Äôs Student Community Action Network (SCAN), which allowed her to identify a community partner to work with on a capacity building internship. Ruby identified Bath City Hall as her community partner, supporting local constituents with information about the upcoming election and assisting with a historical record keeping project. Ruby went on to be selected for the Bowdoin Public Service (BPS) in Washington program. Through this highly competitive program students learn—through weekly on-campus seminars as well as high-level meetings in Washington, DC during spring break—about diverse careers in government and public policy and the ways that they can apply their academic and personal strengths to a future in public service. Her bright and optimistic questions for speakers showed her naturally curious outlook, poise, and confidence. Ruby Fyffe's pursuit of the common good and involvement in civic life is a model for all students and I am eager to see what Ruby makes of this opportunity.
Personal Statement
I discovered my passion for voter advocacy at 15, when I first volunteered with my town clerk’s office during a local election. In June 2020, as the nation battled the Covid-19 pandemic, I disinfected pens and voting booths to help keep voters safe, and I realized how much I valued helping others participate in our democracy. Since then, I have worked to boost voter turnout in nearly every election, whether at home, on my college campus, or while studying abroad in the UK, through information campaigns and voter registration drives. As a History and Government & Legal Studies student at Bowdoin, I am deeply committed to civic engagement and strengthening the connection between citizens and our government. To me, voting is the foundation of our democracy. Looking ahead, I plan to work at the local and state level in high-need areas to guarantee that every citizen can vote fairly and freely, as is their Constitutional right. I truly believe that voter turnout and making elections more accessible ensures our government remains truly by the people and for the people.